Noah found himself yet again standing in front of the mirror, trying to figure out what to wear to meet Luke’s parents for the first time. He looked through his closet and eliminated a few things.

Tie? No, too dressed up. Old t-shirt? No, too laid-back.

He struggled for a few more minutes before he decided to text Luke and ask him. Noah didn’t know why he was so nervous, but he didn’t want Luke’s parents to get the wrong impression of him.

Noah paced back and forth while waiting for Luke’s response, which finally came about ten minutes later.

I’m sure you’ll look fine in whatever. Just wear what you wear to school.

Noah took a breath then sighed. He was so nervous. Should he be feeling this way? He couldn’t deny that he had feelings for Luke. He struggled for weeks trying to figure out how he felt, and decided it was best to just accept it before it caused him any more headaches or half guessing his manhood. Of course, he hadn’t told Luke any of this yet, but planned to this weekend, when they were just hanging out. The two of them.

“Son? Are you ready to leave?”

Noah was caught a bit off guard by his dad talking to him on the other side of the door because he was lost in thought again, but responded with a yes.

They drove in his father’s car to the Snyder’s house in silence almost the whole ride. Noah tried to start a few conversations, but his father only responded with short answers, inquiring he didn’t want to continue discussing anything.

They pulled into the driveway and Noah was a bit surprised at the large size of the house. He knew Luke’s family was wealthy, hearing things at school, but it didn’t really sink in until he saw Luke’s house.

Noah and his father got out of the car and walked to the front door. They knocked and were greeted with a man with a big, welcoming smile on his face, presumably Luke’s dad.

“Welcome! Come on in and make yourselves at home!”

“Thank you,” Noah said walking in.

Luke’s dad closed the door behind them and lead them into the family room where Luke and Luke’s mom were waiting.

“Hello, I’m Lily, this is Holden,” Luke’s mom said, extending her hand to Noah.

Noah took it and politely smiled. “Nice to meet you Mrs. Snyder.”

Noah looked over and saw his dad and Holden shaking hands, and getting acquainted, then looked over at Luke who had a big smile on his face.

Thy continued shaking hands, getting to know each other when Lily offered them a seat and they started talking.

“Oh, it’s already seven. I’m late. I have to go help with the girls at some Girl Scout thing tonight, are you guys going to be ok.” Lily said getting up and heading towards the coat closet. “I’m so sorry for leaving Noah and Colonel Mayer, but you know how it is with kids and social functions.”

Noah got a bit uncomfortable while he watched his father hesitantly answer yes.

Holden and Noah’s father were talking about fishing while Noah and Luke talked on the other side of the living room.

“I think our parents are really getting along,” Luke said.

“Yeah, I’m kind of surprised. My dad’s not the most friendly person in the world.”

“Really? I couldn’t tell,” Luke said in a sarcastic tone with a grin.

“Really,” Noah went along, smiling too.

“So since they’re busy talking, do you maybe want to go upstairs for a little while,” Luke asked in a hushed tone.

”What…now?”

“Yeah now.”

“Ok,” Noah said giving in. “What are we going to tell them?”

”I’ll think of something, c’mon.”

Luke walked to the other side of the room and Noah followed him.

“Hey, is it alright if Noah helps me pack upstairs? I don’t know what to bring.”

”It’s pretty much the same there as it is here son, “ Holden said.

”I know, but I just want to make sure.”

”Alright.”

“Don’t take too long, we have to leave early in the morning. You want to get plenty of rest,” Noah's father added.

“Oh, yeah, of course,” Luke said nodding, slowly walking up the stairs.

Once Noah and Luke got almost all the way up the stairs, Luke turned to Noah and took his hand.

“Want to see my room,” Luke asked with yet another grin as Noah walked up the last step.

“Mhm,” Noah said, holding Luke’s hand tight.

Luke lead Noah to his room and Luke quickly shut the door and started to kiss Noah.

Noah still couldn’t believe how much he loved being around Luke, feeling Luke’s lips press against his. They haven’t kissed since the night of the party, and Noah thought about Luke’s lips ever since.

The kiss started getting more passionate and Noah broke for air.

“I thought you had to pack,” Noah said, teasing Luke.

“Are you kidding, it takes two seconds for me to pack. Striped polo, jeans, underwear, I’m good. Now, shut up,” Luke said, then eagerly putting his lips back to Noah’s.

They continued kissing for a while longer, but heard a baby start to scream.
Luke parted his lips from Noah’s and started to get up.

“Where are going,” Noah said pulling Luke back down, kissing him again. Noah could feel Luke hum before getting back up.

“Believe me, I’d rather stay here, but my brother needs me. Come on, you can come with me and see him.”

”I don’t know I…”

“Just come on,” Luke said grabbing Noah’s hand again.

Noah happily held Luke’s hand down the hall to his little brother’s room, then Luke let go to pick up his little brother.

“Shhh,” Luke whispered, holding his baby brother close. “It’s alright. I’m here, it’s ok. Shhh.”

Noah watched as Luke bounced up and down, calming his baby brother. He knew then, he couldn’t have fallen for a better person. He couldn’t help but smile as Luke continued to calm his brother down, eventually getting him to sleep again.

“That was one of the most amazing things I’ve ever seen,” Noah said, putting his hands on Luke’s waist.

“Well, just wait for the weekend then,” Luke said, quickly giving Noah a peck on the lips. “I think we should get back down there.”

”Ok.”

Noah gave Luke one last kiss before they headed back down.

Noah and his father said their goodbyes and drove back in silence to their empty apartment.

He fell asleep that night thinking about Luke.
--------

Noah woke up fairly early, but didn’t hesitate or hit the snooze button because he just wanted to see Luke as quickly as he could.

Once all the things were gathered and everything was packed and double-checked off various lists, the Mayer men headed over the Luke’s house.

Again, they drove in almost complete silence. Noah hoped that would change soon because he didn’t want Luke to feel uncomfortable for three hours.

They pulled up as Luke walked outside with a suitcase and placed it in the trunk of the car.

“I’m psyched for this weekend, aren’t’ you,” Luke asked both Mayer’s smiling from ear to ear.

“Yeah, I am,” Noah replied smiling too. He loved Luke sitting next to him.

“I am too. It’s always good to talk with my fellow army men.”

”So how long is this thing anyway?”

Noah liked the way Luke was good at trying to keep the conversation going.

“We’ll come back Sunday afternoon. Has Noah told you the schedule?”

“Uh, yeah, but I should probably get a refresher course.”

Noah actually forgot to tell Luke the schedule, but was happy Luke could quickly think of a response.

“Well, really, I’ll be spending a vast majority of the visit with my fellow comrades, so you two are free to hang out around the town. Noah knows where everything’s at. Did you know we lived there previsouly?”

“Noah mentioned something before about it. Was is it fun?”

Noah was amazed by two things right now. One being that his father was actually being welcoming, and two, that he was having a friendly conversation. He just sat back and watched, enjoying it.

“Well, I don’t know about fun. It was fine.”

“Oh. Well, that’s cool too!”

Noah let out a slight laugh that only Luke heard. He knew Luke heard it because Luke looked at him with a confused expression and mouthed ‘what’ which Noah responded by mouthing ‘nothing’ with a big smile.

Noah’s father and Luke carried on several conversations, and Noah chimed in every now and then, but mainly listened to the two. It felt good, his dad knowing Luke and Luke being so comfortable.

They arrived to Branson before Noah expected.

They checked into the hotel and put their clothes in drawers and bags under the bed.

“Well, I’m off to the first gathering. Noah, there’s money in that drawer to the right.”

“Um, ok. When are you going to be back?”

“Well, it’s about noon now, and we have several things to attend to…I should be back by ten or eleven.”

“Geez,” Like began, “you weren’t kidding when you sad ‘vast majority’!”

“Yes, well, we have a lot of things to discuss. I’ll see you boys later.”

Noah and Luke watched as Colonel Mayer took a room key and left the room.
Luke turned to Noah and Noah placed his hands on Luke’s wait. He was so comfortable with himself now after thinking about it and figuring out that he liked Luke.

“So,” Luke said looking up at Noah, ” What do you want to do now?”

Noah thought for a moment then responded.

“Honestly,” Noah said biting his lip,” I want to take you out and walk around town. Is that lame?”

“No,no. It’s…it’s incredibly cute of you actually. We have all weekend to kiss, besides I want to see the town too.”

”Cool. Let me grab a sweatshirt and we can go.”

“A sweatshirt! I knew I was forgetting something! Gah, I’m so stupid,” Luke said closing his eyes and hitting his hand against his head.

“Whoa whoa whoa,” Noah said, putting his hands on Luke’s shoulders, “you’re not stupid, ok? You’re just forgetful. It happens to the best of us. Here, have this one.”

”Noah that’s sweet, but then you’ll be cold.”

“Well, me being the military brat I am, I came prepared. I brought two sweatshirts.”

“You’re very orderly,” Luke said doing his best impression of Noah’s dad.

“Thank you sir,” Noah said smiling but still trying to sound serious.

The two walked down the hall and out of the hotel and Luke put Noah’s sweatshirt on.

“This is really comfy, thanks.”

“No problem.”

“I like wearing your clothes. It feels right, you know?”

Noah smiled and nodded.

“So, where are going first,” Luke asked.

“How about just to the middle of town and walking around? Then later we can go to this great place I discovered when I lived here. You’ll love it.”

“Sounds like a good plan to me.”

They headed out on their little adventure and Noah told Luke about the various buildings and things as they went along.

Noah and Luke were walking into a museum and Noah decided that if he wanted to hold Luke’s hand, he was going to gather up the courage and just do it. He no longer cared what people here saw, because after this weekend, he’d never see them again, and he wanted to touch Luke again.

Luke was a foot in front of Noah, so Noah just slipped his hand into Luke’s and interlocked his fingers.

Luke turned around with a big smile on his face and leaned close to whisper into Noah’s ear.

“I was wondering how long it would take you,” Luke said in a very sultry whisper.

All Noah could do was blush and keep walking with Luke hand in hand.

Noah knew he was supposed to be looking at the art, but found himself looking at Luke staring at the art and listen to him talk about the picture before them.
Noah noticed Luke made different faces when he was examining and thinking about things.

They continued on like this for another hour or so before they realized it was about three o’clock.

“We should get something to eat,” Noah offered.

“I’m not really hungry. Are you?”

“No, not really. I just thought you might be.”

“Nope.”

Luke wrapped his arms around Noah’s neck and looked up at Noah with those beautiful green eyes.

“Since neither of us are hungry, I wanted to show you something. Over here though.”

“What’s over there?”

“Just…just come on,” Luke said letting go of Noah’s neck, but holding his hand again, nodding towards another room.

“Ok.”

Luke lead Noah into a desolate room and started showering him with kisses all over his face.

Noah couldn’t stand it anymore and got Luke to kiss his lips.

They stayed in the room and continued to kiss like the did last night for a few more hours, and the only reason they stopped was because a worker walked in the room telling them the museum was closing early that night.

Noah and Luke embarrassingly walked out of the room hand in hand, snickering under their breath as they left the building.

“Best field trip ever,” Luke said putting his arm around Noah’s waist. Noah put his arm around Luke’s shoulder in return.

“Glad you thought so. It’s late enough to go see that place I told you about.”

“Ok! I’m excited!”

They walked to this small coffee shop and Noah looked over at Luke, waiting for a reaction.

“You want to buy me coffee?”

“No, they have music and poetry and stuff here and I though you might like it. My friend Gabe works here, so I figured I could see him, introduce you, and you’d get to see a cool part of Branson.”

“You’ve met my parents, I’m meeting your friend. Noah, can I ask you something before we go in?”

“Of course.”

“What are we? Like, are we dating or going out or what, because I’ve been thinking about it a lot.”

“Me too.”

“So…”

“So what do you want us to be?”

“I…I know this might be too soon but…I really want to be your boyfriend.”

Noah let a huge smile grow across his face as his kissed Luke. “I really want you to be my boyfriend too.”

“Really?”

“Really.”

The two smiled as they walked into the coffee shop.

Noah went up to the counter and tapped Gabe on the back.

“How can I—Noah! Hey! It’s good to see you!”

“You too! Gabe this is Luke. He’s…he’s my boyfriend.” Noah looked at Luke who was looking up at Noah smiling.

“He’s your…wow! Things have changed! Ok, I want to hear details later, but you better grab a seat. This next girl that’s performing is amazing and I have to work.”

“Alright.”

Noah guided Luke over to the couch and they sat down, Luke resting his head on Noah’s shoulder, as a girl appeared from behind the curtains. She was very thin, had jet black hair, and very red lips.

She sat down at the piano and what came out of that small girl shocked Noah. Her voice was so powerful and raw, and she played the piano beautifully.

Noah sat back and listened on the couch with Luke by his side. The song was called “At the Beginning.”


We were strangers starting out on a journey, never dreaming what we’d have to go through.
Now here we are and we’re suddenly standing at the beginning.
No one told me I was going to find you. Unexpected what you did to my heart.
When I found home, you were there to remind me this is the start.
And life is a road and we want to keep goin, love is a river and I want to keep flowing on.
Our love is a river now and forever, we will sail upon.


Noah could feel the stinging of tears in his eyes, but held them back as he looked over at Luke when he noticed Luke’s eyes were watery too.
Her song and voice were so powerful, and the story was something they knew so well.

Noah sat there, holding Luke, listening to this girl’s story, which was now theirs too.

It was then, Noah knew he had absolutely nothing to lose if he completely admitted his feelings for Luke. The feeling was much more than lust, and much more than he had ever experience in his life, and he never wanted it to end. He never wanted to get up from that couch and back to reality to come back in to place. He wanted to stay in that place were he felt infinite and truly loved.